Mombi

From the jump, the songs on Mombi's The Wounded Beat sound like they were written during a transitional time of day. Or perhaps during the change from fall to winter, when the cold has already sunk deep inside, inducing a period of deep reflection. These abstract yet organic tunes blur the line between ambient composition and downtempo pop, in the vein of the first two Death Cab for Cutie albums. A slow shimmer in the background atmospheres thematically unites each track, as does a sense of drawn-out melody. Both elements bring Wounded Beat a soothing, emotionally delicate resonance. Often reminiscent of the hauntingly beautiful incidental music that Steve Fisk and Ben Gibbard did for About a Son, the album captures the essence of a melancholic mood without dwelling on it.